Kitchen deep cleaning: a complete guide for landlords

By Anna Delves

Whether it’s burnt on grease making cooker cleaning a nightmare, or a dishwasher that doesn’t run as well as it used to, getting your property’s kitchen back into full working order after a tenant has moved out can be a real chore.

If you’re looking to save money by cleaning your property yourself, our guide will take you step by step through how to clean a kitchen from top to bottom.

General kitchen cleaning tips

Make sure to wear protective clothing when cleaning, particularly if you’re using chemical products

Always read and follow the instructions on any chemical cleaning products you buy

Keep the area you’re cleaning well ventilated by turning on the extractor fan or opening a window

If you’re using a new cleaning product for the first time, test it on a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure it won’t cause discolouration or damage

How to clean a kitchen sink

The way you clean your sink will depend on what type of sink you have. Check below for instructions for each.

How to clean a stainless steel sink

Before you start, dampen the sink

Coat evenly with bicarbonate of soda

Scrub gently but firmly with an old toothbrush

Rinse

How to clean a ceramic sink

Prepare the sink by washing it with with washing up liquid, warm water and a clean cloth

Rinse

Spray the sink with a bleach based cleaner and leave it to sit for a few minutes

Rinse

Apply Barkeepers Friend or a similar product to scratched, scuffed or stained areas

Scrub gently in circular motions with a soft kitchen scrubber or sponge

Rinse

How to deep clean a dishwasher

Remove the filter and soak it in warm, soapy water

Give it a quick scrub with a toothbrush to remove any residue then replace it in the dishwasher

To remove limescale, put a cup full of white vinegar in your otherwise empty dishwasher and run a full clean cycle

Coat the bottom of the dishwasher evenly with bicarbonate of soda

Leave the bicarbonate of soda overnight and then run a full clean cycle in the morning

How to clean an oven

In a bowl, mix bicarbonate of soda with water to make a paste

Coat the inside of your oven with the paste and leave overnight

Once the mixture has dried, use a spray bottle to spritz the bicarbonate of soda with white vinegar

Leave for a further four hours

Scrub thoroughly with a scrubbing brush or textured sponge

Rinse

How to clean a stove top or hob

As with sinks, the best way to clean a hob will depend on what type of hob you have. Read below for further details.

How to clean a glass top stove

First of all, remove any loose debris that may have been left

Coat the hob in a non-abrasive, cream cleaner and leave for 10 minutes or as instructed

Use a microfibre cloth to scrub the hob. If you find tough areas, try a textured sponge, but don’t use anything too abrasive

Rinse

How to clean an electric stove top

If your hotplates can be removed, take them off the hob

Follow the steps detailed above for glass stove tops

To clean the hotplates, you can use a stronger cleaner and brillo pads to scrub off any burnt on food

Rinse the hotplates and put them back on the hob

Cleaning a gas stove top

Lift off the gas rings and place them in a mixture of detergent and warm water

Rub with a clean cloth to remove dirt. For tougher areas an old toothbrush works well

If your burners can be detached, remove those and clean them using a specialised hob spray and a sponge or small scrubbing brush. Avoid using water as this can saturate the burners and prevent them from working

Wipe the burners with a damp cloth to remove any excess cleaner

Coat the hob in a cream cleaner and leave for 10 minutes or as directed

Scrub with a soft cloth or sponge to remove any dirt and stains, then wipe with a clean damp cloth

How to clean an extractor fan

If you have carbon or paper filters in your extractor fan, these will need to be replaced rather than cleaned

If you have a metal mesh filter, remove this from the cooker hood, place it in hot, soapy water with a mugful of white vinegar and leave it to soak overnight

Wipe down the filter to remove any lingering grease

For stainless steel surfaces around the mesh filter, make a paste using bicarbonate of soda and water

Apply this to the extractor hood and scrub with a toothbrush

Wipe down the hood with a clean damp cloth then replace the filter

How to deep clean a fridge

Remove everything from the fridge before cleaning it - shelves, trays and attachments that can be taken out

Soak these items in a food-friendly antibacterial cleaner, then rinse them under the tap

Spray the interior of the fridge with the disinfectant and leave for as long as instructed

Wipe clean using a damp cloth

Return the parts of the fridge you cleaned earlier and leave a cup full of bicarbonate of soda in the fridge for a day or two to absorb any strong leftover food odors

How to clean kitchen cabinets

First, empty the cabinets and hoover inside them

Mix together washing up liquid and warm water, then use the solution to clean the cabinets, inside and out, using a clean, soft cloth

Wipe down with a clean, damp cloth then leave the doors open while the cabinets dry

How to deep clean the kitchen floor

As with other parts of the kitchen, the way you clean your floor will depend on what type of floor you have. Read on for how to clean different types of flooring.

How to clean vinyl linoleum floors

First of all, hoover the floor to make sure there’s no debris

Mix a cupful of white vinegar with a tablespoon of washing up liquid in a large bucket

Use a mop with nylon scrub bristles and the cleaning mixture to scrub the floor

Empty the bucket and then fill it again using warm water

Wring out the mop and use it to rinse the floor

Wring out the mop again and use it to soak up any excess water

Use a little jojoba oil or WD-40 on a soft cloth to buff away any scuff marks

How to clean hardwood kitchen floors

First of all, hoover the floor to make sure there’s no debris

Choose a specific wood cleaning product and dilute it following the directions provided

Saturate a rag mop or sponge in the mixture and then wring it so that it is only damp

Mop the floor, being careful not to leave any puddles of the solution

Only rinse the floor if the cleaning product requires it

Wipe up any excess liquid so as not to damage the floor

How to clean tiled floors

Hoover the floor to make sure it’s clear of any debris

Lightly spritz the floor using white vinegar

Mop the floor using a damp mop

If stains persist, particularly in the grouting, use a steam cleaner

How do you clean your property after tenants move out? Let us know in the comments.

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